Stranger (2017)

Profundidade da relação humana.

Já assisti a algum tempo, mas decidi escrever agora. São poucas as séries que já assisti que me deixam tão investido em um plot de mistério ou investigação. Mas além disso, me deixam investido em um personagem tão intrigante quanto Hwang Shi Mok. Ele é um personagem interessantíssimo. Por causa da condição dele, muitas vezes Shi-Mok tem dificuldade em lidar com as emoções alheias. O que o torna um exímio promotor/investigador. Palmas para a atuação de toda a CAST, mas principalmente de Jo Seung Woo, que incorpora um personagens de nuances difíceis de se interpretar. Mas que mesmo assim, foi realizado e interpretado com sucesso pelo ator. Os casos são interessantes também, e suas ligações com a grande corrupção do setor público são muito bem elaboradas.
Um 'must watch' para os amantes de mistério e investigação!

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"I guess that's just his fate. What can I do?"

This quote from Mr. Lee comes to mind as I end this drama. For me, it was such a powerful line, because it's an outline of most of the things that goes on in this wild ride of a drama. It's so easy for one with power just to cut off someone they were associated with as soon as the skeletons in their closets get found out, yet the events just show that justice can prevail in the end, no matter what.

I admit this show gave me such a bright insight on how people's determination and belief in the power of justice can bring the shadiest things to light, so much so that I felt a little personal to it, because of how jealous I am of how rightful the characters are. I certainly wish that people like them existed in the fucked up government of my country!

Anyway, this was just amazing. I was blown away by how much I enjoyed this, and again by how determined both the swayed and unswayed characters were. I was very emotional about what became of certain characters, and the build up of drama was just excellent. The only thing I probably did not like about it was certain things that made me really sad, but at the same time thay pumped up the drama to the max.

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Un procureur privé de ses émotions, mais pas de son sens de la justice

Hwang Shi Mok, étant enfant, souffrait d’un trouble cérébral ayant nécessité une opération entraînant la disparition presque totale des émotions, mais apportant un développement de ses capacités cognitives (j’ai vérifié, ça existe vraiment, et c’est tout à fait réel !   )
Quand le drama débute, il est procureur, peu apprécié car froid et renfermé. Personne ne connaît son problème et d’ailleurs ce n’est pas du tout la partie centrale du drama ! D’ailleurs ce drama est impossible à résumer !  
C'est une plongée dans le monde à la fois de la police et de la justice côté procureur, on ne voit jamais les avocats, car on ne suit que les enquêtes. Et quelles enquêtes !  
On part d’un meurtre, pour s’enfoncer dans le maquis (d’où la forêt, tiens !)de la corruption, de la faiblesse, de l’avidité, et en même temps de la recherche acharnée de la vérité.
Dis comme ça, on peut trouver ça rebutant, mais c’est absolument passionnant, palpitant, jusqu’à la dernière seconde des 16 épisodes !! Les découvertes s’enchaînent, les personnages se dévoilent petit à petit, les alliances se font, des liens se créent (en particulier entre les membres de l’équipe de Shi-Mok). Le travail d'enquête est remarquablement montré, suivi, avec réalisme, sans invraisemblance du tout.
Les personnages sont réels, vrais, avec leurs ombres et leur part de lumière. La fin est parfaitement cohérente, d’ailleurs on pourrait faire une suite et ça ne me déplairait pas !!   Et pourtant c’est une vraie fin.
Il y a des scènes d’une intensité époustouflante, (entre Eun So et Dong Jae !   )une réalisation sobre, entièrement au service de l’intrigue, pas une seconde de pathos pour exploiter certaines situations ! Le réalisateur semble nous mettre à la place de Shi Mok pour nous faire comprendre son attitude.   L’acteur a le génie de nous faire parfaitement ressentir son incapacité émotionnelle, sans pour autant tomber dans la caricature du sociopathe, on le voit témoin incapable d'empathie et on sent la muraille de verre qui le sépare des autres et pourtant combien il est attachant !
Les autres acteurs sont excellents, Yeo Jin la policière qui saura résister au pouvoir de la hiérarchie, le procureur général, ambigu et insaisissable jusqu'au bout, la jeune Eun So dévorée par son désir de rendre justice à son père, Dong jae dont la bonne volonté ne va jamais jusqu'à oublier son goût pour les chemins de traverse, ils sont tous parfaits !
La musique est parfaite aussi ! Il paraît qu’il y a des chansons, moi, j’en ai remarqué une, au générique de fin du dernier épisode, les autres je ne les ai pas entendues, tant elles sont discrètes et pourtant en les écoutant ensuite, elles sont belles !  
Voilà une vraie perle, un chef d’œuvre du genre !!       Je le conseille fortement (mais par contre pas l’ombre du commencement d’une romance,   mais de belles amitiés !   )
Et je rajoute un mot sur ce drama : son réalisme, en fait sa réalité. L'héroïne est habillée comme tout le monde, à peine maquillée, elle court derrière les méchants en mocassins plats et non en escarpins de 12 cm moulée dans une tenue soit disant discrète mais que tout un chacun remarquerait au premier coup d'œil, en plus maquillée comme un mannequin de mode ! Dans "Stranger", la seule qui soit comme ça, c'est la fille du Shaebol, et là c'est encore un gros point positif : la différence induite aussitôt entre deux univers : ceux qui triment, et ceux qui sont dans les hautes sphères !!! Non, ce drama est parfait, je vous le dis !

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Jack of all trades...

If anything this drama has taught me is that the good is the bad, and the bad is the good.

There was this quotes in this movie where a lawyer wished people has tag for good and evil. Then the Police Officer replied to him, how would you know if you are good enough to be tagged as good. Being Human is about chances and to give a shot of becoming kinder each day. Forgiving bitter memories. Accepting flaws. And has that 1 percent heroism which triggers the soul to be brave.

Huge fan for Hwang Si Mok. Dashing and brave yet vulnerable with certain suppression. Then again, I’m always amazed by Jo Seung Woo since God’s Gift. He is a brilliant actor. And genuine in every roles he acted. He’s hinted smile is like a brief of warmth Sunshine

I’ve rewatched season 1, three times and stil find it interesting to watch. You gets to learn characters and to me personally, it’s stress-freeing.

Sometimes Hwang and Han relationship reminds me of Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon from Mentalist. Less bantering, but the same level of intense. Both understand each other like a puzzle cube. You can mixed the colors anyway you like but the write twist you’ll matched all colors.

The storylines are epic, brilliant and genius. That’s all my spill

?

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I just finished watching this and I've gotta say I didn't expect to love this drama so much.
So, the first episodes are kind of slow and I thought of actually dropping this drama but thank god I didn't because it gets so good, the pace of the story gets faster with each episode and it will get you hooked.
And that end tho! I loved it, this is a totally worth watching drama.
I cannot write this review and not mention the expectacular job the cast did, the chemistry between the main characters was amazing.
Can't wait for Stranger 2

This is my first review ever so, sorry for it being kind of crappy.

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Stranger is strange, that is certain.

The show is heavily, who am I kidding, MASSIVELY driven by the story. It's actors are good and surve the purpose, the characters are there and exist yada yada yada. But without the geniusly written story and complex development it experiences this show would not work.

That said, I personally am someone that needs strong characters, character development and good acting. Was it missing here? Not at all. The actors were all so good, that they delivered the story elements perfectly and every character had a very deep and complex story him-/herself. So why did I give this show not a 10/10 or something close to that but instead "only" a 8,5? That's because they kind of wasted their potential here a bit in terms of even further, deeper and overall better character development. They only scratched the surface on what could have been the right path to a masterpiece. All of the set up there is for Shi Mok and also his relationship with Yeo Jin just blatantly gets thrown out of the window for story purposes. I'm glad I watched this show when I already knew, that there will be a second season. Because this makes me hope, that all this set up wasn't for nothing and they actually focus on it more in season 2. I strongly believe that at least the two main characters will actually experience this severe development I strive for, because Shi-Mok showed signs of his development he made in the last scene of season 1. His smile told me, that in his 10 months he has been doing SOMETHING to express some emotions, sort out his thoughts and stuff like that. I just hope, that the showrunners will not ignore the huge potential the relationship between Shi Mok and Yeo Jin has in season 2 once again. Even though the story will probably be genius again and I will fully enjoy myself because of that, I will most likely not forgive the writers and directors for not making this small step to complete the masterpiece Stranger should be.

More in-depth review: https://youtu.be/p3OXEj-RdyY

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The drama that I truly called " Thriller "

I don’t usually write a review for any dramas that I’ve watched but this one is a must!!! If you’re hesitate to watch it bcuz you’re not sure if it’s going to be worth the time, well lemme tell u;
I have watched many so-called thrilling dramas and I usually don’t feel that thrilled. However, Stranger is the first kdrama that literally made me go ??? for EVERY episodes.
The drama is very well-written and it flows soo smoothly. You wouldn’t believe how good the drama is unless you watch it. The twist was very UNEXPECTED and it’s very worth the time. One of the best drama ever. I strongly suggest u watching it and assure that you’ll have trust issues. And btw, the drama has no romance...but friendship. Hence, the actors/actresses are ???

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More of this, please!

Loved absolutely everything about this one. In no particular order:
1. Superb acting -- could have expected nothing else from the leads, but the supporting cast were so stupendously wonderful that one can sense the depth in them -- it really does feel like they have lives outside of the show.
2. Wonderful music -- suspenseful yet not intrusive (and main theme is very catchy!).
3. Loved, loved, loved the character interactions -- It felt like the characters had real relationships (acting definitely contributed to it, but so did the writing, editing, and direction). And thank you, thank you, thank you for not forcing a romance in there.
4. Focus on the work setting -- I know this is a crime drama and the mental puzzle is what is meant to keep it going, but to me, the little interactions between colleagues is what truly makes the show outstanding. It feels like the writers may have actually worked in real life, know what work is like, and have managed to make those real-world experiences entertaining. Never having worked for the police or prosecution I cannot comment about how accurate the actual work responsibilities are (and have a feeling that many of the male lead's activities would be highly inappropriate or at least unlikely for a prosecutor), but at least the situations feel organic.
5. The story -- although there are some minor plot holes and not all deductions are completely justified, the story nonetheless makes sense, and it is clear on rewatching (which, yes, I have done a few times) that the story had been meticulously planned.
Not only one of the best Korean shows that I have watched, but one of the best on Netflix right now, IMHO.
Can't wait for the next season!

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Kim Jun-seok better win all the awards for the OST

The opening credits and the accompanying music drew me in immediately. To watch an intelligent, sensitive legal/crime thriller after what seemed forever was such a delight.

Bae Doona, Cho Seung-Woo, Yoo Jae-myung and Shin Hye-sun were brilliant on screen. The OST weaves in and out of Stranger effectively, so much so, that you're still lingering on a certain scene when it has long gone by. There aren't any gratuitous misogyny or violence...it's all integral to building the story and the cast, director and DOP navigate through it all smoothly.

Lee Soo-yeon's written a complex, woven story that is skilfully abstract in places and glaringly clear in the rest.

Such a respite and antidote to the run-of-the-mill saccharine dramas on offer.

Must Watch!!

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Well written and believable

I really like it!
In this days I prefer watching romantic dramas with happy endings.
This isn't one of them... The lobotomy that ML did make romance impossible and that is ok, we know that. But even with that brain, we feel something in the air...

PLOT - well balanced and very well well written.

ACTING - amazing job of almost everyone!

MUSIC - didn't pay much attention because of the environment where I saw the drama. Can't really have a strong opinion.

REWATCH - knowing the plot is important for not thinking rewatch this drama. But the reason is more because there are so many dramas to see!

OVERALL - If you like a little mystery, great plot and production and a drama that maintains the quality this is a good watch.

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Justice is challenged by corruption

"Stranger," This crime thriller drama has an intriguing plot, well-developed characters, and suspense.

Prosecutor Hwang Si-mok, played by Cho Seung-woo, and a police officer Han Yeo-jin, portrayed by Bae Doo-na. The drama begins with the murder of a high-ranking official, which leads these two together, unraveling a web of corruption and conspiracy within the criminal justice system.

One of "Stranger's" standout features is its character development. Hwang Si-mok, with his emotionless exterior, hides a complex personality shaped by his traumatic past. However, the guy is like a robot sometimes. They reveal what happened to him but there were times I wished he would (or could) show more emotion. Cho Seung-woo delivers a remarkable performance, portraying Hwang Si-mok's inner struggle and determination with depth.
Bae Doo-na's portrayal of this dedicated police officer brings a sense of balance to the seriousness making her character relatable.

"Stranger" maintains a steady pace with its cleverly crafted suspense. The intricate plot unfolds gradually, revealing shocking revelations and unexpected twists that constantly challenge my assumptions. The blend of intense action sequences and quiet, introspective moments further enhances the overall viewing experience. With that said, however there were a couple of episodes where I found my mind drifting away.
Visually, "Stranger" is well done. The show's cinematography captures the gritty atmosphere of the criminal underworld when power meets corruption.

There are times when you think you know somebody or a coworker, but the reality is quite different. As a whole, I recommend watching "Stranger" if you're looking for an intelligent crime drama or thriller. Add this to your "to watch list" at a later date if you're in the mood for a comedy or a romance.

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